Weird to them

Recently, I listened to a respected monarch recount how a few hundred years ago, every newly married couple had to invite either a warrior or the most respected male in the community to consummate the marriage before the couple could make love.

That felt weird to me.

Until I remembered that less than a hundred years ago, it was okay to forcefully sterilize anyone considered 'unfit' in Europe and Latin America. About 104 years ago, women couldn't vote in national elections in the United States. And until recently, doctors could treat depression with electroshock therapy without informed consent.

None of these was perceived as weird when practiced. Several people were culturally ostracized because they didn't obey the norm.

How about those whose defiance - or challenge to the norm - brought them shame, ridicule, and death?

The first thought I had as the monarch spoke was this: how much of what is culturally acceptable today will be considered weird in a few years?

How many of the things we defend with our might, cancel others for, ingrain into playbooks and policies and laws, will be seen as weird by those coming after us?

If we look into the organisations we lead, and the communities we belong, what practices we indulge fall into this bucket?

What will you do about them?

And when?